Affirming TRUTHS of God, His Son, His Word and His church; that spiritual Kingdom established and purchased by the precious blood of Christ and in which redemption and salvation from sin exists, how to gain fellowship with God, offer holy and acceptably worship and service to Him and win eternal life in Heaven, through objective examination and PROOF of inspired writ, for ALL things - 1 Thess. 5:21 concerning faith and practice, life and godliness (NOT opinion, conjecture, human creeds or doctrine or men), but by allowing scripture to interpret scripture, "comparing spiritual things with spiritual", and maintaining scriptural integrity and harmony, while promoting the cohesiveness of the Body of doctrine (i.e. the Faith) given by the inspiration of Almighty God.

10/05/2012

Current Issues Facing the Church

Current Issues Facing the Church

"Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein." Jer. 6:16

"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God." 2Jn.1:9

What is wrong with the church today? Is the simply gospel of Christ not as powerful as it was when the apostle Paul pinned Romans 1:16? Has the gate that leads to life widened since the first century? Or, is the way leading to life not as strait or narrow now as it was during the time of Christ? Can the gospel that saved three thousand in Jerusalem in Acts chapter two, five thousand in Acts chapter four, a murderer in Acts chapter 9, Cornelius, his family and friends in Acts chapter ten, and on and on throughout the book of Acts, still save today as it did then? Or, has it outlived its relevance? Has its shelf life expired for now? Is it so ancient that what it offers has simply no appeal to the modern, sophisticated taste of today? Isa. 40:8 Is the worship that was so pleasing to God and brought glory to His name in the first century bring glory to His name and be as pleasing to Him in our day? Has the carnal, secular, sensational appeal fleeting indulgence finally surpassed the value and worth of the gift of eternal life? I Jn. 2:15-16. What is it that we should do now, as opposed to then, in order to be saved? How shall we please God as they did, in the first century? Does it take more for us to please God that it did for them? Or does it take something different for us to please God today than in the days of Paul and Silas? Is how Christians can please God not written in the pages of His word? Should we seek out an alternative source of revelation of God's will other than the Bible?

In the words of the late, great brother Johnny Ramsey; "We need to go FORWARD; BACK to the Bible." That is; in order for the church of the Lord to progress forward, and advance toward pleasing God and toward her heavenly reward, she must first turn and Return to the Word of God and "approve what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" Rom. 12:2.